By Habiaba Gamal
The agreement destined to have a significant impact on Italian agri-voltaic 4.0 was presented in Rimini on the occasion of “Key Energy”, the innovative international exhibition dedicated to the energy transition towards sources of clean energy generation.
Global Fresh Fruit Consortium, Vespera Energy and i-Pergola have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the promotion and implementation of highly innovative and sustainable agri-voltaic systems, capable of respecting existing crops and accessing sector funding.
As is known, traditional agri-voltaic systems provide for the installation of panels positioned on dedicated superstructures; these, producing shade, create suffering for the underlying crops.
The novelty destined to revolutionize the sector is “Power Shield Tech”, the energy infrastructure for precision agriculture by i-Pergola, an innovative Italian startup in the sector of design, production, installation and maintenance of systems for the production of solar electricity .
“Power Shield Tech” can be installed on all crops with planting layout: kiwis, pears, apples, citrus fruits, hops, vines, almond trees and all the typical cultivars of the Mediterranean basin; the module is made with eco-sustainable materials and complies with all the main sector regulations.
The “Power Shield Tech” panels are mobile and are mounted on the poles of the planting layout, similar to those already present in the field for the growth of tree crops or for protection from atmospheric agents, guaranteeing full accessibility to the farmer and agronomic sustainability.
The IoT electronics with its IEPFMS (Intelligent Energy & Precision Farming Management System) software allows integrated management of the pergola and all precision farming systems: the mobile system interfaces with the plants, adapting to their needs for light or water: a synergy which, as confirmed by studies, increases production.
In practice, not only will it not be necessary to change the agricultural orientation of the fund, but its yield will be increased.
With the Memorandum of Understanding, the Global Fresh Fruit Consortium, with decades of experience in supply chain contracts with partners such as the Barilla Group, undertakes to carry out promotion and information action on these 4.0 agri-voltaic systems, the system has been also presented in Ravenna in Confindustria Romagna.
Furthermore, the Consortium will take care of sharing the production regulations, undertaking to market the products deriving from the land on which the plants will be installed.
Vespera Energy, a leading player in the solar energy market that deals with photovoltaic and agrivoltaic systems in Italy and abroad, interested in investing in agrivoltaic projects connected to the agricultural world, will take care of the development, authorization and construction phase of the plants”.
i-Pergola, as a consultant, general contractor and supplier of agri-voltaic solutions, will make available, on the recommendation of Vespera Energy, all its know-how necessary for the implementation of agri-voltaic projects.
The project represents an innovative form of collaboration between the actors called to be part of it: in particular, the paradigm changes in the field of production, as the farmer becomes an active part of both the solar and agricultural production process.
